Improvement in animal-traps



l. MERCHEN. Animal-Traps.

Patented June 17. 1873- Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB MERGHEN, OF BROOKVILLE, INDIANA. Y

IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,967, dated June 17, 1873; application iled,

' April 12, 1873.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known :that l, JACOB MERGHEN, of Brookville, in the county of Franklin and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Mole-Trap,- of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mole-trap set for catching; Fig. 2 an end view the same; and Fig. 3 also an end view ofthe same after action.

Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to furnish to farmers and others a mole-trap, which is simple and cheap in construction, el'ective in action, and durable on account of the strong and substantial parts. My invention consists of two legs with a collar at each end, connected by a strongl spring of plate metal. A piece of square metal is wedged between the smooth legs, so that the slightest touch will close the legs with strong force, capturing or killing the animal within reach.

In the drawing, A are the legs of the trap, made of smooth round steel or other suitable metal, having at their upper ends crescent shaped collars B with sharp edges. The lower ends of the legsA are connected by a strong plate-spring, C, which forces the collars B with powerful action one below the other. 'I one leg, A, is attached by a suitable ring and chain, a, the square wedge piece D of the steel or other suitable metal, which may be edgewise inserted between the legs at any desirable point. The nearer it is set to the collar ends B the stronger will be the action of spring C. The slightest touch or pressure on the wedge piece Dwill cause its slipping off from the legs A, and consequently produce the closing of the collar ends. Two of these traps are placed in each mole walk, so that by coming either way he will be caught. The strong action of the spring kills the mole instantly and prevents the dragging oil' ofthe trap.

The strong and simple construction of the Y scribed.

JAGOB MERCHEN. Witnesses Gans. A. SCHINER, ALoY. KOEHLER. 

